Taken Over (Book 2 The Ravening Series) by Erica Stevens Read Free Book Online

peaceful at the moment, it was nearly perfect. If only…
       And then Cade was sitting beside me, his midnight hair falling over his hard, handsome features. His stunning onyx eyes gleamed in the filtering light of the day. There was sadness in his gaze, but also a love so deep that I felt it to the very bottom of my soul. “Bethany,” he breathed . H is strong , calloused hand s r an gently over mine. His fingers played delic iously over my skin as he shifted closer . I could feel the heat of his lean, hard muscled body against mine. Shivers of delight and desire raced over me, I could hardly breathe past the need thumping through me. “ My Bethany.”
       Tears choked me. “Yes,” I agreed, unable to do anything else because it was so unbelievably true. I was his, I would always be his . “I’m dreaming again aren’t I?”
       It had been a while s ince he had haunted my dreams, a while since I had dreamed even. I must have fallen asleep for far longer than I ’ d intend ed to. It was odd how very aware I was of these facts at this moment . This was a dream, he wasn’t real, it would all go away, but it was all so wonderfully perfect right now that I didn’t care.
       “You are,” he confirmed.
       “I miss you. So much.” My voice cracked on the words, his thumb gently wiped away the tear that slid free. “I’m broken without you.”
       “You’re not broken Bethany, you’re just wounded. You’ve been here before, you will survive this too .”
       “I know. I know I will. I just wish you were here. All the time I wish you were here. ”
       He leaned forward; his lips were soft against my cheeks as he kissed my tears away. Those lips, those wondrously marvelous and warm lips were everything that I remembered as my heart hammered in eager anticipation. I felt the brush of them in every fiber of my being as warmth spread out from the point of contact. The heat seeped through my body, warming all of my frozen cells. “I wish I was here too.”
       A small sob escaped me, and then his lips were upon mine , desperate and fervent in his fierce need . M y heart leapt and soared in my chest, everything within me screamed for so much more. I melted against him, clinging to him, never wanting to let go of his solid arms as my mind spun with happiness and desire. Even though I knew this wasn’t real, that it couldn’t last , I allowed myself to be swept up in the joy and wonder that filled me.
       It may not be just an illusion , but it was so unbelievably right that the agony within me ease d . I found I could actually breathe again as his tongue swept into my mouth . H is hands found my cheeks, my hair, and my collarbone before stroking over my arms once more . He moved suddenly, lifting me and settling me into his lap . H is hand entangled in my hair as he pulled my head back, his lips travel ed over my throat for a brief moment.
       “ My Bethany,” he whispered again.
       I was crying freely now, I couldn’t stop it as pleasure and sorrow encompassed me. “Yes,” I agreed over and over. “Forever,” I vowed.
       He pul led slowly back; his midnight eyes were brilliant, sparkling in the bright light of day. I hated the grief in them, the loss. “You must hold onto your hope Bethany.”
       “I can’t hope for you to return anymore, it’s too hard, it’s too much. ” I could barely speak through the agony wrenching at my soul. “ I’ll love you forever and always, but I have to let myself grieve for you now. I must.”
       His fingers stroked lightly over my cheeks, his head tilted slightly to the side. He was magnificent in the light, heartbreakingly handsome, and he was mine . Even if he was gone forever , he would always be mine. “I did not say hope for me Bethany. You must grieve me, you must let me go one day, but you have to hold o n t o your hope.”
       “I have no hope anymore,” I breathed.
       “Of course you do. You wouldn’t be here , and